Partridge, with more presence of mind than the others seemed to
possess at that moment, laid his hand on the storekeeper's arm,
saying:
"Better not shut the door. They will tear the house down if you do.
Resistance is out of the question."
In another moment a boisterous crowd of men, their faces flushed with
drink, all wearing sprigs of hemlock in their hats, came pouring up
the steps and filled the store, those who could not enter thronging
the piazza and grinning in at the windows. Edwards and the other
gentlemen stood at bay at the back end of the store, in front of the
liquor hogsheads. Their bearing was that of men who expected personal
violence, but in a justifiable agitation did not forget their personal
dignity. But the expression on the face of Abner, who was the leader
of the gang, was less one of exasperation than of sardonic humor.
"Good mornin," he said.
"Good morning, Abner," replied Edwards, propitiatingly.
"It's a good mornin and it's good news ez is come to taown. I s'pose
ye hearn it a' ready. I thort so. Ye look ez ef ye hed. But we didn'
come tew talk 'baout that. Thar wuz a leetle misunderstandin yisdy
'baout selling aout David. He ain't nothin but a skunk of a Baptis, an
ef Iry hed put him in the stocks or licked him 'twould a sarved him
right.
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